Railway signal torpedo



June 14,1927. 1,632,464

. J. W. EDMANDS RAILWAY SIGNAL 'IORPEDO Filed Marchla 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14. 1927.

J. EDMANDS RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO Filed March 18 l $.26 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 14, 1927.

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JOHN WILEY EDI/LANDS, 0F N EWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

Application filed March 18, 1926. Serial No. 95,707.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes and it comprises a torpedo having its explosive composed of a tablet that is molded in a suitable manner to the desired shape, which is afterwards enclosed in a wrapper.

The primary object of the present inven tion is to so shape the wrapper and to so wrap the explosive as to enclose the tablet within a hermetically sealed case that is also a water-proof case.

Another object of the present invention is to construct the wrapper with a head portion of such dimensions in respect to the explosive tablet that when the tablet is placed in the center of the head the head can be wrapped around the torpedo entirely enclosing it, and with a stem portion made of such length that it is wrapped preferably a number of times around the case in a direction transverse to the folded ends of the head.

A further object of the invention is fastening a rail engaging strap to the torpedo by having it held to it by the stem portion that is wrapped around the strap.

A further-object of the invention pertains to securing the strap to the stem portion of the torpedo at such a point that when the stem portion is wrapped around the body portion of the case the strap is brought in the center thereof, and the strap may be secured by an eyelet or by passingthrough a slitted part of the stem portion.

It will appear hereinafter that the blank or sheet is well adapted to secure either a lead strap or to hold a spring strap to the torpedo, all of which will appear hereinafter, as well as other objects of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved torpedo. l

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the torpedo.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank, the folds being indicated by dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a cross section of the torpedo showing a lead strap that passes through slits made in the stem portion of the blank. Figure 5 is a perspective View showing the blank partially wrapped around the torpedo and a lead strap passing through slits made in the stem portion.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of my improved torpedo showing a spring rail engaging member carried by it.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a partly wrapped torpedo that is constructed like that shown in Figure 6 with a spring rail engaging member. 3

Figure 8' is a cross sectional view of the torpedo showing the lead strap that is attached to a separate element that is enclosed within the wrapping of the stem portion of the torpedo. I

Figure 9 is a detached perspective view of the separate member through whichthe lead strap is passed.

Figure 10 is a plan view showing the blankpartially wrapped around the torpedo and the separate rail attaching device in position for wrapping around the completed torpedo.

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the torpedo partially completed.

I am aware that it is not new to partly wrap an explosive tablet in a wrapper, but so far as I am aware a wrapper of'the form here shown, and wrapped in the manner that will bedescribed, is novel. In Figure 1, the completed torpedo 1 is shown. The blank in which the explosive tablet is wrapped may be formed of a water-proof paper and in that event a hermetically sealed and a water-proof wrappingis pro vided. However instead-of using a waterproof paper for the blank, the torpedo after it is made may be dipped in a suitable waterproofing material, and in such event a waterproof torpedo is the result; Whichever. method may be pursued preferably the under side of the torpedo will have attached to it a suitable quantity of sand 2 or other material so that the torpedo in engagement with the rail is held from slipping.

In Figure 3 I show the blank from which the case for the explosive tablet 3 is formed. lit will be noted that this blank is provided with an enlarged head portion 4 that hasa stem portion 16 extending from the center of the head portion. The explosive tablet 3 will be made of a size that will fit within the center of'the head t and the head portion is folded around it in a manner which will now be explained. V v

First the outer end 5 is folded around the torpedo whereby the outer end substantially covers the explosive tablet, and this doubling is made on the lines 6 and 7. Then the head a is folded inward on the end portion 5 on the lines 8 and 9. This encloses the explosive tablet and forms the extended ends and 11. Following the foregoing doubling of the head 4, the extended ends 10 and 11 are thenfolded inward over the torpedo, each portion reaching to about the center of the torpedo producing a partially completed case like that shown in Figure 11. In turning the ends 10 and 11 inward over the torpedo the folding breaks at the points 12.

It will be understood from the drawings that the explosive tablet 3 is oblong in plan view, the long portion extending across the stem 16. This makes the ends 5 and 5 of the head much wider than the side portions 13 and 1 1. When the torpedo is wrapped the end portions 10 and 11 are formed and of such a length that when they are folded over the center portion 15 they do not overlap.

By folding the head portion 4 in the manner described, the explosive tablet is en closed in a water-proof closure, and then the elongated stem portion 16 is wrapped around the torpedo a number of times, the end 17 being suitably cemented thereto.

The lead rail engaging member 18, in Figures 1. 2, and 3, is attached to the first fold 19 of the stem 16 by means of an eyelet 20, whereby the lead strap is in the center of the torpedo and the stem portion 16 is wrapped around the torpedo, enclosing the strap within several wrappings.

In Figures 4; and 5, I Show the lead strap 18 passing through slits 21 which are formed in the first fold 19 whereby the strap is attached to the case in the same position and the stem portion 17 wrapped around it in the same manner as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 Referring now to Figure 6, I show a metal spring clip 22 thatis secured to the first fold 19 of the stem portion of the blank and then the stem portion is wrapped around it in the same manner as described in the previous figures. This metal clip ispreferably secured by an eyelet 23 to the first fold of the stem portion. The wrapping of the stem portion around the metal clip will hold the metal clip permanently to the torpedo and the metal clip will hold the torpedo to the head of the rail. The metal clip 22 is shown in plan view in Figure 7 before the wrapping of the torpedo is completed.

In Figures 8, 9 and 10, I provide a sepa rate piece at that is preferably made substantially the same plan size as the torpedo and it is placed on the stem portion 16 preferably at the first fold whereby when the stem portion is wrapped around the torpedo, the member 24 holds the strap 25 in position on the torpedo. This member 24 has transverse openings or slits 26 through which the strap passes.

Attention is directed to the fact that the end portions 10 and 11 are somewhat wider than the center portion 15 as shown at 27 and when the ends are folded over the part 15, these wider portions are bent or folded down the edge of the torpedo, making more sure the watertight closure of these ends.

I find by actual test that a torpedo enclosed in a blank folded and shaped as herein shown, will stand all the tests of the railroads as to time of soaking, etc, without admitting water to be absorbed by the explosive tablet 8. It is well known that the railroads require tests of this kind before torpedoes will be accepted.

[is shown in Figure 6 the spring clip 22 passes through slits made in the stem portion 16, and the center of the clip is secured to the stem by means of a suitable eyelet 23. This clip is provided with the indentations 23, which by reason of the clip being formed of spring material, are broken by the passing of a train, causing a separation of the parts of the spring. The object of this is to prevent thespring clip remaining on the rail and indent the head of the rail by a continuous passing of the succeeding wheels of the train.

The object of securing the lead strap by passing it through a separate piece 2% is to add thickness beneath the explosive to act as a preventive against the tearing out of the rail engaging strap. This cushioning efiect may be increased or decreased by varying the thickness of the member 24. This auxiliary piece 2 1 is enclosed by the wrapping of the stem portion therearound.

A torpedo constructed as herein shown and described is cheap to construct and is efficient in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A railway signal torpedo comprising a blankhaving a substantially square head adapted to be folded around an explosive tablet, and an integral projecting stem portion of a length to be wrapped around the folded head for the purpose described.

2. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet, a blank having a substantially square head portion constructed to receive the tablet and sufficiently large to be folded therearound in a manner to produce a water-proof closure, the head having a stem portion that is folded around the folds of the head portion for the purpose specified.

3. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet and a case therefor, comprising a blank having at one end a substantially square head portion sulficiently larger than the explosive tablet to be wrapped therearound and entirely close the explosive tablet and a stem portion centrally located in respect to the head portion, the said stem portion adapted to be wrapped around the folded head portion for making a waterproof closure for the tablet.

4;. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet, a closure therefor consisting of a blank having an enlarged substantially square head portion with sides and ends of a width greater than half the width of the explosive tablet and a stern portion extending from the central portion of one end, the head portion adapted to entirely enclose the said tablet and the stern portion wrapped around the folded parts of the head, thus holding them in their folded positions.

5. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet and a blank having a head portion and a stern portion extending from the center of the head portion, the head portion being made longer than its width where by its ends may be folded around the tablet forming folded ends of a length reaching substantially to the center of the tablet, the stem portion wrapped around the folded portion of the head, making a waterproof closure for the tablet.

6. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet, a blank having a rectangular head portion with side and end portions sufficiently large to entirely envelop the tablet and an elongated stem portion extending from the center of the head portion, the head portion wrapped around the said tablet, and the stem portion wrapped around the parts of the head portion and secured to hold them in position.

7. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet, a blank having the central portion adapted to receive the tablet, the blank having relatively wide and narrow portions at the sides and ends of the tablet, the blank folded around the tablet forming end portions wider than the side portions whereby they are wider than the torpedo, the end portions folded over the torpedo and the wide portions bent down at the sides of the torpedo, assisting in making a waterproof closure therefor.

8. A railway signal torpedo comprising an explosive tablet, a blank having a head portion adapted to receive the torpedo and a stem portion extending from its center, the said head portion folded around the tablet to form extended ends wider than the tablet sa d ends folded inward with its wider portions pressed down at the sides of the torpedo and the stem portion folded around the said ends and secured thereto, thus holding the ends in position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. I

JOHN WILEY EDMANDS. 

